Trade Secrets & Copyright
Choosing the right protection for the asset and the business goal
Not every intellectual property asset should be protected the same way. The right strategy depends on the nature of the asset, how it creates value and what will best support the client’s business objectives. Katz Group helps companies and entrepreneurs identify, protect and maximize intellectual property rights through practical guidance tailored to each situation.
With more than 30 years of domestic and international intellectual property portfolio management and litigation experience, the firm advises clients on how to protect valuable proprietary assets and how to enforce those rights when necessary.
Trade secret strategies for valuable confidential information
For clients whose competitive advantage depends on confidential information, trade secret protection may be an effective option. Trade secrets can include formulas, computer programs, processes, methods, devices, techniques, pricing information, customer lists and other non-public business information.
Trade secret protection is generally most effective when the information cannot easily be reverse engineered and is unlikely to be independently developed by others. In situations where an invention can be readily discovered or duplicated, other forms of protection, such as patents, may be more appropriate.
We implement comprehensive strategies to safeguard your confidential business information and internal processes, ensuring your proprietary knowledge remains a secure, high-value asset.
Building trade secret programs that support long-term value
One of the advantages of trade secret protection is that it can potentially last indefinitely and does not involve the formal prosecution costs or maintenance fees associated with patents. At the same time, effective trade secret protection requires disciplined internal procedures and carefully maintained confidentiality measures.
Katz Group helps clients develop and implement trade secret programs designed to preserve the value of confidential information. The firm drafts non-disclosure agreements for use with vendors, licensees and other third parties and conducts intellectual property audits to help businesses identify trade secrets and establish practical measures to protect them.
Client Testimonial
“Our business is better
because of Julie.”
Julie Katz delivers big-firm experience, discipline, and professionalism with small-
firm responsiveness, patience, and personal service. As a former litigator, she
understands the dynamics and demands of trademark law, always anticipating
what we need to do so we can plan and prepare rather than react and scramble.
And she understands the impact of legal decisions in the broader business
context, giving us a richer perspective and a deeper insight that results in a
greater peace of mind. More than a talented lawyer, she is a wise counsel and a
trusted advisor. Our business is better because of Julie.”
Carleton Prince
President & CEO
ThreePeaks Brands, Inc.
Copyright services from registration to enforcement
Some of a company’s most valuable assets are confidential processes, creative works and proprietary information. Katz Group helps clients identify, protect and maximize those assets through practical trade secret and copyright strategies aligned with business objectives.
Katz Group provides a full range of copyright services, including copyright registration, licensing and contract drafting, counseling on the intellectual property aspects of business transactions, copyright recordation with US Customs and dispute resolution when conflicts arise.
The firm helps companies and individuals secure copyrights in the United States and internationally, while also helping them maximize the commercial value of those assets through licensing arrangements, merchandise agreements and other brand extension opportunities.
Protecting copyright assets through strategic enforcement
Clients also rely on Katz Group to protect their copyright assets when infringement occurs. In some matters, that may require litigation. When enforcement becomes necessary, the firm works closely with clients to evaluate the merits of the matter and whether litigation will support their broader business goals.
Preventing infringement before it reaches the marketplace
In many cases, the most effective enforcement strategy is to stop infringing goods before they enter the market. Katz Group has developed strategies and programs designed to help prevent counterfeit and unauthorized goods from entering the United States.
The firm works with US Customs as part of broader anti-counterfeiting efforts, helping identify counterfeit goods, support cooperative testing and trace the origins of unlawful imports through shipping channels. These efforts can help keep counterfeit products and, in some circumstances, parallel goods from crossing US borders.
Practical counsel for protection, enforcement and commercial value
Whether the issue involves safeguarding trade secrets, securing copyrights, expanding commercial opportunities or enforcing rights against infringement, Katz Group provides practical intellectual property counsel aligned with each client’s business priorities.
Representative experience
As an intellectual property attorney, I have the privilege of representing clients before courts and government agencies, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Copyright Office. I value the opportunity to make those experiences more strategic, supportive and accessible for the people and businesses I serve.
I serve as a dedicated partner for enterprises, offering refined counsel designed to scale with your global operations:
Stopping knockoffs while strengthening a growing toy brand
A toy company needed a strategy that would efficiently and cost-effectively enforce its trademarks and copyrights and prevent dilution of what was to become a famous mark. The challenge was to halt “knock offs” of an extensive line of plush toys that were wildly popular. Our creative solution enlisted the aid of US Customs agents in identifying counterfeits and unauthorized imports, but without compromising our client’s consumer and authorized retailer relationships. The effectiveness of this Customs program contributed to the tremendous success of the client.
Strategic brand consolidation for national growth
What eventually became a national health club struggled during the early 1990s with a hodge-podge of fitness centers operating under multiple trade names. Ultimately, the client decided to consolidate its holdings under a single mark, and asked us to help its marketing team plan the roll-out. We assessed the risks of unification and selection of a single mark, evaluated the challenges the company could expect to encounter, and charted a course to reduce those risks. In the end, the client rolled out its new brand, becoming a name that is recognized both nationally and internationally.
Safeguarding valuable IP across a global licensing network
The creator and licensor of porcelain figurine characters needed a plan to ensure the company’s future IP rights. The challenge we confronted was to execute a national and international IP protection program without negating existing merchandise provisions among numerous licensees (and the litigation that might occur as a result). We prepared trademark and copyright license agreements providing protections, and established a policing system designed to maintain the strength of the mark and copyrights.
Securing summary judgment in a copyright dispute
We successfully defended a multinational video game company when it was sued for copyright infringement by an individual inventor over one of its popular games. We were able to get the case dismissed on summary judgment by proving that the video game in question was independently created.
Secure Your Work
Protect your IP assets
From protecting confidential business information to securing and enforcing copyrights, Katz Group helps clients choose the right strategy for valuable intellectual property assets.
